This Father’s Day marks 102 years since 27-year-old Sonora Dodd started the first Father’s Day at a local YMCA in Spokane, Washington.  

Sonora was the oldest of six children who were raised by their father, Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart after their mother died in child birth. William was a loving and devoted father who raised all six children by himself on a rural farm.

Listening to a sermon marking the second-ever Mother’s Day in 1909, Sonora decided that a day to celebrate fathers was needed and she began her campaign. Sonia argued that the community wasn’t showing enough respect and appreciation to fathers who contribute so much to our society.  

With the support of the local YMCA, the first Father’s Day was held in 1910. The day involved a church sermon and saw all the young members turn up wearing roses - a red one to honour a living father and white to honour the deceased.                   

By 1924 the day had spread world-wide and US President Calvin Coolidge declared it to be an official national day to “establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children and to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations”.

YMCA of Brisbane Chief Executive Officer Alan Bray said “Today, Father's Day is not only a day to honour fathers, but one to show respect for all male role models – from brothers, fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, uncles and friends that are special to us.”

“To all these men this Father’s Day, the YMCA of Brisbane would like to say thank you,” he said.

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